Energy storage and conversion using fluid energy and electric field to create electric charge

Abstract

A device for converting energy of a fluid to electrical energy is disclosed. The device comprises a pressure vessel having an inlet port for a fluid. A pair of charge collecting electrodes is spaced apart from each other along a collection direction and disposed within the pressure vessel. An electric field generator is configured to generate an electric field in the pressure vessel along a field direction to separate charged species in the fluid. Other disclosed devices provide a current flow delay to encourage charge build up or illumination with electromagnetic radiation. Yet other devices are arranged for fluid flow rather than pressure. Also disclosed is a system comprising any one of the disclosed devices and related methods. The disclosure may find application, for example, in providing a source of energy for an electric vehicle.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for converting energy of a fluid to electrical energy, the device comprising:
 a pressure vessel having an inlet port for a fluid and configured to retain pressurised fluid from the inlet port in the pressure vessel, wherein the pressure vessel is otherwise sealed and wherein the pressurised fluid is retained at more than 1 bar; 
 a pair of charge collecting electrodes spaced apart from each other along a collection direction and disposed within the pressure vessel; and 
 an electric field generator configured to generate an electric field in the pressure vessel along a field direction throughout a time period, wherein generating the electric field throughout the time period causes separation of positive and negative charged species in the pressurised fluid throughout the time period, and wherein separating the positive and negative charged species in the pressurised fluid causes conversion of the energy of the pressurised fluid to the electrical energy throughout the time period. 
 
     
     
       2. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric field is an ionising electric field to ionise the fluid. 
     
     
       3. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the electric field generator comprises a pair of field generating electrodes spaced apart along the field direction and disposed on either side of the pressure vessel. 
     
     
       4. A device according to  claim 3 , wherein the field generating electrodes are electrically isolated from the pressure vessel. 
     
     
       5. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the field direction and the collection direction are substantially parallel. 
     
     
       6. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the pressure vessel comprises a partition between the charge collecting electrodes sealing the pressure vessel into a first portion connected to the inlet port and comprising one of the charge collecting electrodes and a second portion connected to a further inlet port and comprising another one of the charge collecting electrodes. 
     
     
       7. A device according to  claim 1  comprising a current delay arrangement for delaying current flow from the charge collection electrode or charge collecting electrodes until an amount of charge has built up on the charge collecting electrode. 
     
     
       8. A device according to  claim 7 , wherein the current delay arrangement comprises a further pressure vessel sealed around a portion of the charge collecting electrode protruding out of the pressure vessel and a further electrode disposed in the further pressure vessel wherein respective free ends of the charge collecting electrode and further electrode define a spark gap therebetween. 
     
     
       9. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device comprises a single charge collecting electrode instead of a pair of charge collecting electrodes. 
     
     
       10. A device according to  claim 1  comprising a source of electromagnetic radiation for irradiating a pressurised fluid inside the pressure vessel. 
     
     
       11. A device as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the source of electromagnetic radiation is configured to generate electromagnetic radiation in a wavelength range of 120 NM to 820 NM. 
     
     
       12. A device according to  claim 1 , wherein the fluid is a gas, for example air, Argon or Neon. 
     
     
       13. A method of converting energy of a pressurised fluid to electric energy, the method comprising:
 causing the pressurised fluid to maintain a pressure of more than 1 bar inside a pressure vessel; 
 applying an electric field to the pressurised fluid in the pressure vessel throughout a time period, wherein applying the electric field throughout the time period causes separation of positive and negative charged species of the pressurised fluid throughout the time period along a field direction of the electric field; 
 collecting at least a fraction of one or each of the positive and negative charged species at a respective current collector throughout the time period; and 
 drawing a current from one of the current collectors to provide electrical energy to a load. 
 
     
     
       14. A method according to  claim 13  comprising ionising the fluid by applying the electric field to the flowing fluid to produce an ionised fluid comprising the negative and positive charged species. 
     
     
       15. A method according to  claim 14 , wherein ionising the fluid comprises generating a plasma. 
     
     
       16. A method according to  claim 14 , wherein ionising the fluid comprises causing a discharge, for example a dark or corona discharge. 
     
     
       17. A method according to  claim 13 , the method comprising delaying current flow from the current collector or current collectors until an amount of charge has built up on the current collectors. 
     
     
       18. A method according to  claim 17 , wherein delaying current flow comprises delaying current flow until a spark occurs in a spark gap between a free end of the current collector or collectors protruding outside the pressure vessel and a respective current receiving electrode. 
     
     
       19. A method according to  claim 13 , the method comprising irradiating the pressurised fluid with electromagnetic radiation while causing the pressurised fluid to maintain a pressure in the pressure vessel. 
     
     
       20. A method of converting energy of a pressurised fluid to electric energy, the method comprising:
 causing the pressurised fluid to flow through a flow chamber along a flow direction between an inlet port and an exhaust portion of the flow chamber, thereby converting the potential energy to kinetic energy of the flowing fluid; 
 applying a pulsed electric field to the fluid flowing in the flow chamber throughout a time period with an electric field generator; wherein applying the pulsed electric field causes separation of one or each of a positive and negative charged species in the pressurised fluid throughout the time period, and wherein separating the charged species in the pressurised fluid causes conversion of the energy of the pressurised fluid to the electrical energy throughout the time period; 
 collecting at least a fraction of one or each of a positive and negative charged species at a respective current collector throughout the time period; and 
 drawing a current from a current collector to provide electrical energy to a load.